[Styloid syndrome and its treatment]

An elongation of the styloid process or an ossification of the stylohyoid ligament can be the cause for a styloid syndrome and may lead to craniocervical pain, globus sensation and dysphagia. Pathophysiologically, the styloid syndrome is related to an irritation of the surrounding nerves, the carotid artery or the pharyngeal mucosa. There are various alternatives for its treatment.

This study analyzed retrospectively the data of eleven patients, who were treated for a styloid syndrome. All patients were placed on a stepwise therapy plan, which began with a medicamentous treatment, followed by a surgical treatment, if the problems persisted. The surgical approach included a transoral styloid fracture and/ or a surgical styloid shortening, which was carried out either transorally or transcervically.

Three of the eleven patients presented no complaints after the medical treatment and did not require any further therapy. In two out of five patients, transoral fracturing of the styloid was successful. Six patients underwent surgical resection of the styloid process. In five cases a transoral route was used and in one cases a transcervical route. Postoperatively, four patients were free of symptoms and did not present any functional deficit. Two patients experienced severe complications with an ipsilateral medial cerebral artery infarction. These were related to a dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in one case, and an arrosion bleeding of the ICA after the formation of an abscess of the parapharyngeal space in the other case.

A stepwise therapy of the styloid syndrome including medicamentous treatment, transoral styloid fracture and resection of the styloid process has proven to be of value. If the styloid process can be palpated submucosally, a transoral resection may be chosen. However, using this route, the possibility of severe complications has to be taken into consideration, such as injury of the internal carotid artery.